Dead Snow: Nazi Zombies

“Dead Snow” lets us know, from the very start, what we are going to get: it’s Norwegian, set in the snowy mountains (at a cabin far from any civilization), and there are Nazi zombies who inhabit the dark woods outside the cabin. With that sort of premise, you’re the only one to blame if you are surprised by anything that happens in the film.

That said, it’s an interesting movie, but not a very good one for American audiences. I honestly know very little about Norwegian culture, but the characters here are all quirky and strange, all seem to have love affairs with Hollywood and American celebrity culture that just seem…well, weird. And they do the sort of things that–in my town, at least–would be met with disgust, but there in Norway, seem to be normal: for instance, two characters have sex in an outhouse…after one of them has just finished taking a dump…I mean, really…that happened. First of all, I’m grossed out by outhouses in general, but sex on a wooden toilet with piles and piles of excrement below you? I really hope that Norwegians don’t do this on a daily basis.

In any case, the strangeness of the characters shouldn’t be that big of an issue, but when you spend the entire movie thinking about their weird habits and comments, it detracts from your enjoyment of the Nazi zombies. And the Nazi zombie scenes are pretty fun, truth be told, with some funny “Evil Dead”-style slapstick along the way.

“Dead Snow” is a Saturday afternoon movie, really, the kind you watch when you’re waiting for someone to come over, or when you’re hung over and can’t get off the couch. It isn’t something you rent, or make time for. It’s something that happens to you.